SEO is a world that never stops; strategies evolve, algorithms shift and new trends emerge almost daily. But one debate has stood the test of time: Is long-form content still king?
With Google’s algorithms becoming more intelligent and users demanding more personalised, high-value content, it’s only natural to ask whether investing in long-form SEO content still makes sense in 2025. Or has the pendulum swung back in favour of short, snappy posts that cater to dwindling attention spans?
Below, we break down the data, explore current 2025 ranking factors that marketers should prioritise and help you determine the ideal blog post length for your industry.
Does Word Count Still Matter for SEO?
Yes, but with caveats. While word count alone isn’t a direct ranking factor, longer content tends to perform better in organic search for a few key reasons:
- Depth and relevance — Longer posts often cover topics more comprehensively, increasing their chances of satisfying user intent.
- Higher engagement signals — Readers spend more time on detailed content, signalling quality to search engines.
- More opportunities for keywords — Longer content naturally includes a wider range of related terms and semantic variations.
- Backlink potential — In-depth guides and resources are more likely to earn backlinks, boosting authority.
While Google’s John Mueller has repeatedly said that word count isn’t a direct ranking factor, SEO professionals know it indirectly impacts performance. Longer content tends to naturally address multiple user intents, attract backlinks and increase dwell time — all signals that feed into Google’s algorithm.
Also, consider how long-form content impacts content freshness. Instead of publishing multiple short posts, a single, authoritative blog post can be updated over time. That enhances content longevity, a key part of a sustainable long-form content SEO strategy.
However, stuffing your blog with filler content just to reach a target word count is still a big no-no. Google’s natural language processing has advanced, and it can detect fluff. The key in 2025? Create high-quality, relevant content that serves the user best, whether that takes 500 words or 2,500.
Google’s Preference — Long-Form vs. Short-Form Content
Google doesn’t officially favour content by length. What it does favour is value. In 2025, the algorithm prioritises content that:
- Directly answers user queries
- Demonstrates E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness)
- Delivers a great on-page experience
That said, long-form content often has a better shot at ticking all those boxes. A Backlinko study found that the average Google first-page result contained 1,447 words. This trend is likely to continue, especially as AI-driven search (like search generative experience or SGE) pulls context-rich information from in-depth sources.
On the other hand, short-form content can still thrive when:
- The query is extremely specific or low-intent.
- The content appears in featured snippets or FAQs.
- It’s used in content clusters that support longer pillar pages.
Another reason long-form performs well in 2025 is the way users search. With conversational queries and voice search on the rise, users often want content that provides context, not just quick answers. Long-form content gives Google more to work with for ranking and displaying your site in rich results, like People Also Ask and featured snippets.
That said, long-form isn’t always better by default. Google rewards intent-matching content. For example, a quick “how-to” query might only need 600 words with visuals. But a guide on “how to launch a startup” will likely need 2,000+ words to be comprehensive and competitive. This means aligning length to search intent is one of the most important ranking factors in 2025.
So, the verdict? Long-form content SEO is still a winning strategy, but only when it’s relevant, well-structured and user-focused.
The Ideal Blog Post Length by Industry
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the perfect blog post length. Different industries, audiences and keyword types demand different approaches. But here are some general benchmarks based on recent SEO insights:
| Industry | Ideal Blog Length |
| B2B SaaS | 1,500–2,500 words |
| e-Commerce | 1,000–1,500 words |
| Finance | 1,800–2,500 words |
| Health and wellness | 1,500–2,000 words |
| Travel and lifestyle | 1,200–2,000 words |
| Education | 2,000+ words |
| Digital marketing | 1,500–2,500+ words |
Use these as a starting point. These ranges aren’t arbitrary; they simply reflect how complex the average user query is and how much detail is required to satisfy it. For example, educational or B2B SaaS audiences often want deep dives into problems and solutions, while e-Commerce users may be more interested in quick comparisons or product roundups.
Your content goals also matter. If you’re writing to build authority, attract backlinks or serve as a pillar page, opt for the higher end of the range. If your goal is to answer a specific question or support another page in your content cluster, shorter may work better.
Ultimately, the most important factor is to meet the needs of your target audience and satisfy the search intent behind each query. Use tools like Google’s “People Also Ask”, Semrush or Answer The Public to validate what your audience expects and how much content is needed to serve that.
Structuring Long-Form Content for Engagement
Long content is only effective if readers stick around to consume it. Here’s how to keep them engaged from start to finish:
- Start strong
Nothing grabs a reader’s attention like a strong, punchy intro. The key to keeping your readers on the page from the start is giving them something to look forward to. Ensure your intros are engaging and unique to keep your readers curious for the remainder of the blog. - Use a clear hierarchy
Structure your content using H1, H2 and H3 tags to create a logical flow. This not only helps readers skim but also improves crawlability for SEO. - Add a table of contents
Include a clickable table of contents for posts over 1,500 words. This enhances the UX and makes it easy for users to find what they need. - Break up the wall of text
Use short paragraphs, bullet points and images to keep content digestible. Include callout boxes or quotes to highlight key takeaways. - Include multimedia elements
Videos, infographics and charts increase time on page and help explain complex ideas visually. - Optimise for featured snippet
Add question-and-answer sections and use schema markup to improve your chances of appearing in rich results. - End with a strong CTA
Guide your readers to what to do next, whether it’s exploring another blog, downloading a resource or contacting your team.
Extra Tip: Topic Clusters Are the New Power Play
In 2025, ranking well often means creating not just one long-form piece but a cluster of interconnected content.
This involves:
- Creating a comprehensive pillar post on a broad topic
- Supporting it with shorter, more focused subtopics
- Interlinking them for SEO and UX benefits
This structure helps establish topical authority, a key ranking factor in 2025, and ensures that your content covers the breadth and depth Google wants.
How AI and SGE Are Shaping Content Length
SGE pulls summaries from multiple sources, meaning your content needs to answer questions clearly and succinctly within the body text. Meanwhile, AI assistants favour well-structured content that can be broken into chunks and presented as concise answers.
To adapt, create layered content:
- Give quick answers at the top (summary or TL;DR)
- Expand on those answers in-depth throughout the post
This way, you cater to both skim-readers and deep divers, maximising your ranking potential.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Long-Form Content
Even though crafting and publishing long-form content sounds simple enough, it’s easy to get it wrong. Here are some common mistakes brands make:
- Writing for word count, not value — Adding fluff just to hit a target length can backfire. Focus on delivering depth, not padding.
- Poor structure — Without subheadings, visuals or a clear hierarchy, even the most insightful post can become unreadable.
- Neglecting internal linking — A long post is the perfect place to support SEO through smart internal linking, but many skip it.
- Not optimising for mobile — Long content must still load quickly and read well on smaller screens.
- No clear CTA — After reading thousands of words, users need a next step. Guide them clearly towards the action you want them to take.
Create and Publish Quality Content That Ranks With Online Marketing Gurus
So, is long-form content still king in 2025? Absolutely — when it’s done right.
Modern SEO rewards brands and businesses that combine depth, quality and user-focused structure. Long-form content SEO remains one of the most effective ways to demonstrate authority, earn backlinks and dominate competitive keywords. But remember: Don’t chase word count. Chase relevance.
Of course, not everyone understands what makes a winning piece of long-form content — and the good news is, with Online Marketing Gurus, you’ve got a talented team of copywriters on your side to help your brand stand out from the crowd.
As Australia’s leading digital marketing agency, we live and breathe SEO. From technical audits to content strategy and high-converting PPC campaigns, we help businesses across Australia grow online. We specialise in building and executing tailored strategies through our SEO services that include crafting fresh, unique and high-quality content, be it long-form, short-form or anything in between.
Get in touch with us today and let’s create content that drives results long after you hit publish.
About the Author
Andrew Raso
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